REGION: Customer service at top of assessor-elect's list

Fallbrook man takes over Jan. 3

When Ernie Dronenburg of Fallbrook takes over as county
assessor/clerk/recorder on Jan. 3, he says he'll bring a commitment
to customer service ---- and a few of his signature bow ties,
too.

The affable 67-year-old, who's had a long career in politics,
defeated incumbent David Butler in November's countywide election,
51 percent to nearly 49 percent.

Butler was appointed to the post in March 2009.

On Wednesday, Dronenburg sat down for an interview at an
Escondido cafe to outline his goals.

Dronenburg, wearing a brightly patterned red, black and gold bow
tie, said he's looking forward to being a public servant once
again.

"The taxpayer is not a taxpayer," said Dronenburg, who was
elected to five terms on the California Board of Equalization from
1978 to 1998. The board administers state taxes. "They're a
customer. We're here to serve them."

Dronenburg said he ran for office because he wanted to restore
trust in government and continue his taxpayer advocacy. He's
operated his own taxpayer advocate practice since 2006; before
that, he worked for the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.

Upon taking office, he said he'll ensure that his staff of about
390 can answer the public's questions not just about services
provided in their office, but also basic services in related
departments, such as the tax collector's office.

He said this approach would be an overall savings for the county
and customer.

The assessor/clerk/recorder is responsible for many areas. He
and his staff decide the value of all properties in the county
(assessor); issue marriage, birth and death certificates (clerk);
and record real estate documents (recorder), among other
functions.

The top post comes with a $199,000 salary and a four-year
term.

Dronenburg said another goal is to reopen to the public the
Chula Vista and Kearny Mesa branches that provide clerk and
recording services within two weeks of his taking office. He said
he would move staff around to accomplish that goal, not add
employees.

Butler closed the branches to the public in July 2009 because of
budget constraints.

A longer-term goal, Dronenburg said, is to put more services on
the department's website.

Dronenburg said Butler has offered to answer his questions as he
starts the job.

Butler could not be reached last week to detail his plans.

The incumbent spent more than 34 years in the department, rising
through the ranks.

Dronenburg said he believes his positive name recognition, a
slew of endorsements and his willingness to spend a big chunk of
his own money helped him win election.

His campaign raised $172,338 from January through Oct. 16. That
included $70,000 of his own money, according to financial
disclosure forms. The campaign spent nearly $198,000 during that
period.

Butler's campaign, meanwhile, took in $43,435 from January
through Sept. 30, according to the latest online disclosure forms
available. It spent $43,651 during that period.

Dronenburg criticized Butler during the campaign for not
conducting more mass appraisals, a formula-based review that would
have set values for entire neighborhoods much faster than the
mostly single-property appraisals used by Butler's staff.
Dronenburg said such an approach could have avoided some of the
flood of assessment appeals the county received when property
values plummeted three years ago.

Butler said earlier this year that he's been proactive in
clearing the backlog of appeals, many of which stemmed from before
he was appointed to the top post.

Looking forward, Dronenburg said his county job will always be
associated with taxes. He was quick to point out, however, that an
assessor doesn't collect taxes or set them. The tax collector and
Board of Supervisors do those, respectively.

Still, realizing this association, he said he'll use his warm
personality to puncture any images of a cold, uncaring "tax man"
and hopefully have it rub off on his office.

"I hope they (customers) will be greeted by someone that's happy
to be there ... and I believe a lot of that starts from the top,"
Dronenburg said.